20 Apr

Major road rebuilding project set for Shanklin.

Island Roads is set to begin a major road improvement scheme on one of the main routes in and out of Shanklin.

Victoria Avenue is to be upgraded in a scheme that requires significant excavation and rebuilding before resurfacing processes can then be applied. As a result, it will be necessary to apply a full closure of Victoria Avenue between Westhill Road and the junction with the High Street for an estimated 17 days and nights.

Given the extensive nature of work, the closure will be in place around the clock. While HGVs and through traffic will be diverted from Whiteley Bank, separate traffic management will be in place locally given that is inevitable motorists will use local knowledge to navigate the road closure.

Residents and local businesses have all received letters giving details of the scheme and how they will be affected. Island Roads staff will also be taking the mobile visitor centre to St John’s Road Car Park on Wednesday 26th April 2017 between 11am and 1pm so they can answer any questions.

Residents are being asked to note that one of the polling stations for the May 4 local elections is at the Shanklin Youth & Community Centre at the junction of Victoria Avenue and Salem Road. Vehicular access will be maintained via St Johns Road and there will be no pedestrian impediment to accessing the polling station itself. As Victoria Avenue will be closed to through traffic, parking will be permitted on-street between Salem Road and St John’s Road for the day.

Island Roads project engineer Derek Benfield said: “As this is a particularly extensive project it is simply will not be possible to deliver the work under an overnight closure.

“We have taken steps to minimise disruption but with a scheme of this nature it is inevitable that there will be some temporary inconvenience and we would like to thank residents and businesses in advance for their support and understanding.

“Those who know the area will be aware that this section is in poor condition and this work will not only provide a greatly improved road surface, it is also designed to address the underlying issues that have caused the road to deteriorate.

“We are aware that works needs to be undertaken on the remainder of Victoria Avenue, Shanklin and it is Island Roads intention to return later in the year, outside the main tourist season.”

Updates on the progress of the scheme will be given via Twitter and Island Roads’ website www.islandroads.com

The details of the phased works are as follows:

Phase one, the reconstruction of the section between Furzehill Road and Albert Road will involve a full 24-hour road closure from Tuesday May 2 to Sunday May 7.

Phase Two, the reconstruction of the section between Albert Road and St John’s Road will involve a full 24-hour road closure from May 8 to May 15.

Phase three, the resurfacing of the section from near the High Street to a point east of Westhill Road will involve a closure between 6am and 6pm.